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Introduction

Hello All,

I recently registered as a member, however, as I was just looking over the member list, I see that I actually registered a year ago as "Dainin Keith." But I guess I'll just use "Keith." Anyway, you may remember me as a guest sitter with Jundo a few months back, when we bowed to the trash can.

I am originally from Connecticut, now living with my wife and two beautiful young sons in south Florida. I teach a combined Kindergarten/Grade 1 class in a public Montessori school. I have a Ph.D. and MA in education, and a BFA in Drama. I have been practicing Zen for about two-and-a-half years. Up to that point I only read about Zen for many years, but it wasnít until I read Brad Warner's "Hardcore Zen" that I actually got my butt on a zazfu. I will always be grateful for him for that (even though Iím not really into punk or monster movies).

It was via my search for a Soto group in my area that I was fortunate to meet Jundo; and I'm happy to say that he has been my teacher ever since. I took the Precepts with him in a lovely and simple jukai in a beautiful park. He gave me the name Dainin (and he sure knows that I need "Great Patience"). I sure miss him and his family since they moved to Japan, but I am thankful for Treeleaf. I have pretty much read all the posts here and I am very impressed with the level of discourse and civility.

I just ordered "Everyday Zen," so I'll be joining the book club conversation as soon as I am caught up to you all. I would love to post an avatar (I have a photo of myself), but try as I may, I cannot get it to work. So, any assistance with this will be much appreciated!

Enough of me rambling on! It's damn good to be here with you good folks!

Thanks for the welcome! Thanks also for the tip about my avatar, but I still couldn't get it to work. I'm going to ask one of my tech savvy colleagues to take a look mat it tomorrow. Hopefully, she'll get it to work.

I also read "Everyday Zen" a few years back, but I'm looking forward to a fruitful discussion with fellow Treeleafers.

I would love to post an avatar (I have a photo of myself), but try as I may, I cannot get it to work. So, any assistance with this will be much appreciated!

I opened the image I wanted to use and edited it with Microsoft Office Picture Manager. I used the resize link and adjusted the size untill it was approximately 80 x 80 pixels. That seemed to do the trick.